New industry eyeing Wallace location

WALLACE -- A new industry may come to the South Park industrial park and bring at least 20 new jobs.

Millennium International Group, LLC, has offered to buy five acres at South Park Center near Wallace for $6,000 per acre. The company, which has its headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio, and has several other locations throughout the U.S., plans to build a 12,000- to 15,000-square-foot building and employ 20 people.

More jobs are expected to be geneated over a three-year start-up phase, said Duplin Economic Development Commission Director Woody Brinson.

The company will make epoxy products used in the coating of metal products.

Brinson said company officials are also considering making parts for the automotive industry.

Duplin County Board of Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing on the sale for 9:15 a.m. during their April 4 meeting at the county administration building on Seminary Road in Kenansville.

"This decision by Millennium International Group is a good example of how an existing industry being satisfied helps make additional investment possible," said Brinson.

He said Lewis Tuggle, the manager for the Am-Liner East operation in Wallace, was aware that Millennium International Group was looking an additional facility location. Because of his company's excellent working relationship in Duplin County, this motivated Mr. Tuggle to promote Wallace as the site for the company's new location.

Brinson said the 100 Committee had planned on building their next shell building on the land that Millennium International Group wanted for their company's construction. However to assist with the project, and bring new jobs and investment to the area, he said, the 100 Committee "graciously agreed to find another site for their shell building. We thank them for this cooperative attitude."